The ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ Department of Theatre Arts produces six MainStage productions every year in our brand-new, state of the art, 98-million dollar Visual and Performing Arts Center. ÌýOur productions include both musicals and traditional plays, and range in style and genre from classic to contemporary. ÌýAll students in our department, regardless of degree program, are heavily involved in all aspects of these productions. ÌýWhether performing on stage, building scenery, hanging lights, running sound, contributing to dramaturgical research, or stitching costumes…upon graduation, our students will have had hands-on experience in multiple areas of production. Ìý Our students leave ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ well-equipped with a plethora of skills in a diverse and expansive array of theatrical disciplines.

These six productions are produced in our two incredible venues. ÌýThe MainStage Theatre, and the Studio Theatre.

MAINSTAGE THEATREÌý

The MainStage Theatre seats 350, and boasts an incredible fly system, sound system, hydraulic orchestra pit, and so much more.

The Department of Theatre Arts keeps consistent with the university’s mission to serve an accessible and responsive intellectual resource for the people and institutions of Connecticut. The department provides a thorough, modern education in the theory, skills and technology of theatre production and performance that is tailored to the individual student’s background and career objectives.

The department believes in fostering a diverse student environment with an emphasis on professionalism and a commitment to excellence.

Objectives

To accomplish this mission the Department of Theatre Arts:

• Offers its students the highest quality undergraduate programs in performance, musical theatre, theory, theatre technology and design by professors that have worked professionally in their field and maintain high academic credentials in their respective areas.
• Emphasizes performance and production techniques, writing and theatre management throughout the undergraduate curriculum to develop students’ ability to understand and deliver appropriate performance and theoretical concepts and to apply and utilize these techniques in a professional setting.
• Provides studio and theatrical experiences using public and classroom productions to entertain live audiences. Our season each year consists of two main stage productions, two large-scale children’s shows, studio productions, and a variety of workshops and readings which enhance the cultural environment of the university and its programs.
• Organizes a residency for our students in New York for a week to perform off-Broadway, take workshops, visit network television and theatrical venues and meet theatre professionals.
• Organizes opportunities for students to perform off-campus at such venues as the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival in Scotland and at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
• Provides a personalized learning environment for students through faculty mentored undergraduate research/creative projects and internships.
• Prepares students for graduate education in multiple areas of theatre arts and the entertainment industry.
• Assists students in discerning appropriate careers through diligent advising.
• Provides students with connections and references to professional organizations (such as USITT), internship programs and job placement opportunities.
• Arranges for New York theatre professionals to travel to our campus to conduct workshops in multiple aspects of theatre training.
• Provides and fosters the growth and development of faculty by encouraging research, attendance at professional meetings, publication and presentation of scholarly work and creative performance.
• Collaborates with organizations and institutions in various areas of the entertainment industry within the tri-state area to support professional growth of faculty as well as internship opportunities for students.
• Expresses its strong commitment to the community by collaborating with regional elementary, junior and senior high school educators to further our programs in children’s theatre.Ìý

Transfer Admissions

All students wishing to transfer into any degree program in theatre at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ must meet the criteria listed for each program, including those currently attending institutions holding articulation agreements with ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ.Ìý All applicants will be assessed in the areas of their selected option for matriculation and appropriate pre-requisite placement in courses within the major.Ìý